North Carolina · BLS, May 2025 wages

$30-an-hour jobs without a degree in North Carolina

Name: $30-an-hour jobs without a degree in North Carolina, 2025
Creator: Degreeless Jobs
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

76 occupations in North Carolina pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is air traffic controllers at $62.13 an hour.

By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS

All 76, sorted by hourly median

State medians for employed workers. The 25th to 75th range is annual. Occupations reported on an annual basis only are not included.

Occupations in North Carolina with a median of $30 an hour or more that typically require less than a bachelor's degree
Occupation	Hourly median	Annual median	25th to 75th	Employed	Typical entry education
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$62.13	$129,230	$104,640 to $169,520	410	Associate's degree
Musicians and singersNo formal educational credential	$57.96	—	—	750	No formal educational credential
Nuclear techniciansAssociate's degree	$53.09	$110,430	$108,780 to $111,140	420	Associate's degree
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52.07	$108,300	$80,240 to $118,600	420	High school diploma or equivalent
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51.78	$107,700	$48,330 to $122,770	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51.01	$106,100	$82,870 to $143,490	6,650	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$50.34	$104,710	$89,860 to $108,110	950	Postsecondary nondegree award
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$47.72	$99,250	$84,680 to $103,850	710	Associate's degree
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$47.04	$97,850	$84,150 to $100,930	6,690	Associate's degree
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46.35	$96,410	$91,500 to $102,610	480	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.84	$91,200	$67,060 to $132,320	11,080	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.80	$91,100	$73,950 to $105,110	4,820	High school diploma or equivalent
Power distributors and dispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.47	$90,420	$79,350 to $98,800	190	High school diploma or equivalent
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$41.35	$86,010	$77,620 to $100,130	2,970	Associate's degree
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41.17	$85,630	$78,310 to $95,420	160	High school diploma or equivalent
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$40.98	$85,240	$79,380 to $98,590	600	Associate's degree
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$40.93	$85,120	$79,460 to $95,920	1,180	Associate's degree
Transportation inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.61	$84,470	$65,310 to $110,630	380	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics draftersAssociate's degree	$39.40	$81,960	$72,810 to $84,530	430	Associate's degree
Artists and related workers, all otherNo formal educational credential	$39.35	$81,850	$68,420 to $106,330	80	No formal educational credential
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.16	$81,460	$71,200 to $103,580	320	High school diploma or equivalent
Funeral home managersAssociate's degree	$38.81	$80,730	$74,620 to $126,500	460	Associate's degree
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.72	$80,540	$49,990 to $118,990	250	High school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$38.51	$80,090	$68,010 to $87,820	4,630	Associate's degree
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.49	$80,060	$65,780 to $95,200	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Avionics techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$37.84	$78,710	$63,570 to $97,240	520	Postsecondary nondegree award
Media and communication equipment workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.83	$78,690	$49,340 to $109,300	180	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.15	$77,270	$60,490 to $100,310	5,650	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$37.01	$76,980	$62,720 to $93,670	4,700	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.92	$76,800	$60,950 to $97,170	21,110	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.89	$76,740	$64,020 to $86,330	1,660	Postsecondary nondegree award
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$36.56	$76,040	$61,630 to $92,980	2,490	Associate's degree
Hearing aid specialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.45	$75,810	$56,960 to $79,470	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.21	$75,310	$57,990 to $95,100	9,880	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.19	$75,270	$61,430 to $89,610	32,460	High school diploma or equivalent
Insurance appraisers, auto damagePostsecondary nondegree award	$35.97	$74,810	$64,910 to $95,860	520	Postsecondary nondegree award
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.79	$74,450	$62,870 to $83,340	9,250	Associate's degree
Food service managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.62	$74,080	$59,790 to $91,080	9,420	High school diploma or equivalent
Personal service managers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.57	$73,990	$54,090 to $99,580	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Court reporters and simultaneous captionersPostsecondary nondegree award	$35.34	$73,510	$67,050 to $87,040	110	Postsecondary nondegree award
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$34.65	$72,070	$53,670 to $84,930	1,530	Associate's degree
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.13	$70,990	$48,750 to $100,240	49,110	High school diploma or equivalent
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.72	$70,140	$58,480 to $83,260	8,890	High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$33.52	$69,720	$57,320 to $84,340	1,940	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.48	$69,640	$56,790 to $83,180	22,240	High school diploma or equivalent
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$33.36	$69,390	$62,110 to $76,420	1,590	Associate's degree
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$33.26	$69,170	$57,870 to $95,840	490	Postsecondary nondegree award
EmbalmersAssociate's degree	$32.96	$68,550	$43,890 to $71,480	70	Associate's degree
Physical therapist assistantsAssociate's degree	$32.47	$67,540	$62,310 to $76,520	3,280	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.34	$67,270	$60,930 to $75,790	1,090	High school diploma or equivalent
Fire inspectors and investigatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$32.12	$66,820	$46,940 to $78,990	870	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.92	$66,400	$47,170 to $83,140	470	High school diploma or equivalent
Wind turbine service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.91	$66,380	$61,040 to $77,950	120	Postsecondary nondegree award
Occupational therapy aidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.82	$66,190	$47,490 to $76,190	250	High school diploma or equivalent
Construction and building inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.77	$66,080	$56,030 to $79,430	6,490	High school diploma or equivalent
Ship engineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.26	$65,010	$62,640 to $85,850	90	Postsecondary nondegree award
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical doorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.16	$64,820	$49,990 to $78,920	1,440	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation security screenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.03	$64,540	$52,170 to $68,060	1,300	High school diploma or equivalent
Crane and tower operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.00	$64,480	$55,070 to $77,670	1,050	High school diploma or equivalent
Postal service clerksNo formal educational credential	$30.91	$64,290	$58,470 to $72,950	2,070	No formal educational credential
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except enginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.81	$64,080	$55,940 to $76,410	5,100	High school diploma or equivalent
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.77	$63,990	$53,040 to $78,090	760	Postsecondary nondegree award
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.75	$63,970	$52,130 to $81,250	3,540	Postsecondary nondegree award
Tire buildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.74	$63,950	$51,420 to $64,380	3,750	High school diploma or equivalent
Lodging managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.70	$63,860	$43,720 to $85,040	1,460	High school diploma or equivalent
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.45	$63,330	$57,810 to $76,930	800	Associate's degree
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.43	$63,280	$57,040 to $80,330	3,360	High school diploma or equivalent
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.42	$63,270	$59,270 to $69,700	18,010	Postsecondary nondegree award
Legal support workers, all otherAssociate's degree	$30.37	$63,170	$47,670 to $110,300	1,000	Associate's degree
Health information technologists and medical registrarsAssociate's degree	$30.29	$63,010	$42,230 to $97,790	2,370	Associate's degree
MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.29	$62,990	$56,150 to $72,680	700	High school diploma or equivalent
Chemical plant and system operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.25	$62,920	$51,880 to $66,370	660	High school diploma or equivalent
Architectural and civil draftersAssociate's degree	$30.17	$62,750	$51,780 to $78,670	2,680	Associate's degree
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.10	$62,620	$45,940 to $97,210	46,040	High school diploma or equivalent
Subway and streetcar operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.09	$62,590	$46,680 to $73,710	110	High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial machinery mechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.02	$62,430	$49,650 to $74,420	15,720	High school diploma or equivalent

Sources and method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates. Typical entry education from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). An occupation is listed when its typical entry education is below a bachelor’s degree and its North Carolina median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 76, sorted by hourly median

Other states

Sources and method